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Islamic Patterns: An Analytical and Cosmological Approach
� The classic study of the cosmological principles found in the patterns of Islamic art and how they relate to sacred geometry and the perennial philosophy.
� 150 color and black-and-white drawings of Islamic patterns.
� Explains how these patterns guide the mind from the mundane world of appearances to its underlying reality.
For centuries the nature and meaning of Islamic art has been wrongly regarded in the West as mere decoration. In truth, because the portrayal of human and animal forms has always been discouraged on Islamic religious principles that forbid idolatry, the abstract art of Islam represents the sophisticated development of a nonnaturalistic tradition. Through this tradition, Islamic art has maintained its chief the affirmation of unity as expressed in diversity.
In this fascinating study the author explores the idea that unlike medieval Christian art, in which the polarization of such forms and patterns was relegated to a background against which to set sacred images, the geometrical patterns of Islamic art can reveal the intrinsic cosmological laws affecting all creation. Their primary function is to guide the mind from the mundane world of appearances toward its underlying reality.
Numerous drawings connect the art of Islam to the Pythagorean science of mathematics, and through these images we can see how an Earth-centered view of the cosmos provides renewed significance to those number patterns produced by the orbits of the planets. The author shows the essential philosophical and practical basis of every art creation--whether a tile, carpet, or wall--and how this use of mathematical tessellations affirms the essential unity of all things. An invaluable study for all those interested in sacred art, Islamic Patterns is also a rich source of inspiration for artists and designers.
� 150 color and black-and-white drawings of Islamic patterns.
� Explains how these patterns guide the mind from the mundane world of appearances to its underlying reality.
For centuries the nature and meaning of Islamic art has been wrongly regarded in the West as mere decoration. In truth, because the portrayal of human and animal forms has always been discouraged on Islamic religious principles that forbid idolatry, the abstract art of Islam represents the sophisticated development of a nonnaturalistic tradition. Through this tradition, Islamic art has maintained its chief the affirmation of unity as expressed in diversity.
In this fascinating study the author explores the idea that unlike medieval Christian art, in which the polarization of such forms and patterns was relegated to a background against which to set sacred images, the geometrical patterns of Islamic art can reveal the intrinsic cosmological laws affecting all creation. Their primary function is to guide the mind from the mundane world of appearances toward its underlying reality.
Numerous drawings connect the art of Islam to the Pythagorean science of mathematics, and through these images we can see how an Earth-centered view of the cosmos provides renewed significance to those number patterns produced by the orbits of the planets. The author shows the essential philosophical and practical basis of every art creation--whether a tile, carpet, or wall--and how this use of mathematical tessellations affirms the essential unity of all things. An invaluable study for all those interested in sacred art, Islamic Patterns is also a rich source of inspiration for artists and designers.
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1976
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About the author
Keith Critchlow
27Ìýbooks26ÌýfollowersDr. Keith Critchlow is the cofounder of the journal Temenos, as well as the author of numerous books on sacred geometry, including Order in Space and Time Stands Still. He is Professor Emeritus at The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London, and a former professor of Islamic Art at the Royal College of Art. Prof. Critchlow, a leading expert in sacred architecture, also founded Kairos, a society that investigates, studies, and promotes traditional values of art and science.
Prof. Critchlow's contributions to World Wisdom's books on sacred art include such pieces as his forewords to Titus Burckhardt's extraordinary work Chartres and the Birth of the Cathedral and the compilation of Burckhardt's writings on Christian art in general, The Foundations of Christian Art: Illustrated (edited by Michael Fitzgerald), which won a Gold Midwest Book Award and a Silver Benjamin Franklin Award. In addition, Keith Critchlow wrote a foreword to the book of Frithjof Schuon's writings on sacred art, Art from the Sacred to the Profane: East and West (edited by Catherine Schuon).
from worldwisdom.com
Prof. Critchlow's contributions to World Wisdom's books on sacred art include such pieces as his forewords to Titus Burckhardt's extraordinary work Chartres and the Birth of the Cathedral and the compilation of Burckhardt's writings on Christian art in general, The Foundations of Christian Art: Illustrated (edited by Michael Fitzgerald), which won a Gold Midwest Book Award and a Silver Benjamin Franklin Award. In addition, Keith Critchlow wrote a foreword to the book of Frithjof Schuon's writings on sacred art, Art from the Sacred to the Profane: East and West (edited by Catherine Schuon).
from worldwisdom.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 5, 2013
Extremely dense and very rich. There aren't many step-by-step instructions, but high-level discussion of extremely complex patterns. Makes a good follow up to "Islamic Geometric Patterns" by Eric Broug. Throws you in too deep for a starting point, but great for the next level of understanding.
May 30, 2011
Basically, low rating because it was not what I hoped for. The cosmological stuff did nothing for me; I am more interested in practical applications of the design. Was grateful I got this book through interlibrary loan; it is perfect for someone, just not for me.
April 17, 2009
It took the library over 3 months to get this book. I has assumed they lost my request. Just flipping through, it looks so delicious! Geometrically, that is.
May 22, 2009
"Through this tradition, Islamic art has maintained its chief aim: the affirmation of unity as expressed in diversity."
beautiful work
beautiful work
December 7, 2011
don't understand most of what this book is saying, as it's extremely scholarly and complex, but somehow i feel it is very authentic. hope to learn more about it.
October 21, 2014
I loved this book. Worked on it for six weeks and learned to draw a lot of difficult geometrical figures.
November 27, 2009
The information is fascinating, however I found the 'presentation' a little dull. It would have also been nice to see actual works of art.
February 9, 2010
Some interesting diagrams, but a lot of weird cosmological material that I'm not really keen on.
January 14, 2010
a brilliant scholarly work on the Islamic Geometrical Patterns by Keith Crtichlow.
Read
September 3, 2010good
November 8, 2011
This. Book. Is. Amazing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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